The Statesville Record & Landmark, a North Carolina newspaper, greeted readers this morning with the news of a KKK rally being held in the North Iredell County area this weekend. It was the headline news in a town of 24,633. According to the flyer that they printed on the front page (mercifully blocking out the contact information) the rally is to be held in a neighboring town, with the sickly ironic name of ‘Harmony.’

The flyer, and subsequently the front page of the newspaper, promises “Free Admition (sic)” and “Free Onsite Camping.” They’ll be food and drink vendors, souvenirs and of course, a cross burning.

Perhaps unnecessarily, it also adds the proviso, “White People Only.”

In the Record & Landmark’s online version of the story, the tone of the reporting seems almost disinterested, almost spartan compared to the attention it received in print. At the very least, nobody seems very alarmed. And even though they say it’s been at least 20 years since the Klan met in the County, the police will not be on alert (emphasis mine):

Capt. Darren Campbell of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office said deputies are aware of the rally but will not have a presence there unless called for service. “It’s on private property,” he said, adding that law enforcement cannot be on the property unless a crime is committed.

“Our officers are aware in case any problems should arise,” he said. “But they have not asked for any assistance for us. They have not reached out to us.”

Well, I suppose it’s a relief the Klan hasn’t asked for any assistance. But I assume they’ll “reach out” if they do.

If you look at the very bottom of the page, you see an ad for an urgent care facility, located in Statesville. It is in color, and everything is spelled correctly. But it sure isn’t as eye-catching as the advertising the Klan got for free this morning.

If someone had asked you on Tuesday if the Ku Klux Klan was active in Iredell County, chances are, your answer would have been a resounding “No.”.

That is why we made the difficult decision to publish an article in Wednesday’s paper about a KKK rally and cross burning planned in Harmony on Saturday.

Here is the reality.

The Ku Klux Klan is one of our nation’s oldest and most violent hate groups. Its members preach a message of ignorance and discrimination that targets so many people in our community.

We will not ignore it, and we will not shelter our readers from the discomfort of having to confront racism in their midst.

It was painful to see the words “KKK” and “White people only” and a drawing of men in white hoods on the front page of our newspaper.

Many of you have shared very emotional and heartfelt comments with us about why you wish we hadn’t written a story… published the flyer… put it on the front page.

It was a decision we made together as a newsroom — people of all ages and races and backgrounds — and it is one we are proud of.

You need to see what hate looks like in 2012. You need to have the same painful and emotional reaction we did when we saw that poster and its masked men carrying burning crosses.

In our lifetimes, the Klan has marched on downtown streets through Statesville. In our lifetimes, the Klan has spread terror and hate here and across our nation. In our lifetimes, the Klan has been responsible for murders and beatings and rapes.